A doll is traditionally presented during a quinceañera as a symbol of growing up.
The ritual is often called the changing or presentation of the last doll. The doll represents childhood, and receiving or relinquishing it marks the celebrant’s movement toward a more mature stage of life. In some families, a younger sibling or relative receives the doll instead.
The custom is symbolic rather than a rule imposed on all quinceañeras. Many modern celebrations omit it, reinterpret it, or substitute another meaningful object. Families may also distinguish this ritual from the separate presentation of jewelry, religious items, or a bouquet.
The doll tradition is sometimes confused with the shoe-changing ceremony. They are different customs: the doll emphasizes leaving childhood, while the shoe ritual traditionally uses footwear to represent a change in social or personal status.